Janice Lee Burnett

Janice Lee Burnett, 87, went to be with her heavenly Father on May 7, 2025.
She was born on August 21, 1937, to Bump B. Brinkley and Oza L. McClain Brinkley, in Oklahoma City, OK. She was the next youngest child of 7 girls and 2 boys. Her father preceded her in death when Janice was 12 years old, in 1949.
Jan attended John Marshall High School where she was an active participant in team sports, and a cheerleader for 4 years. Jan also played on the girls' tennis team. She worked after school and on weekends at the Britton Drug Store lunch counter where she cooked burgers and made delicious banana splits for her customers. Jan worked from age 13 to 17 to help her widowed mother with household expenses.
Jan married Charles Edward Burnett, her high school sweetheart, on November 13, 1954, in Philadelphia, PA. Charles had joined the Navy and had taken leave to meet Janice in Philadelphia for their wedding. He then returned to his ship until his discharge in 1955. Janice returned to Britton, OK, where she lived with her mother until Charles's return.
In 1955, Jan and Charles had their first child, Janet Jo Burnett. James Edward was born in December of 1957, and then Jerry Michael arrived in July of 1960. Jan was an involved homeroom mother in her children's classes and also, a den mother with the Cub Scouts. She loved being a mother and was the number one fan of each of her children. When the children were in school full-time, Janice went to work at the Montgomery Ward retail store in Penn Square in Oklahoma City. She was in charge of inventory control. She arranged to leave work to be home when the children were out of school. Some years later, Jan also worked as a bookkeeper for Omeco Railroad Tie company.
The family relocated to Norman, OK in 1972 and have resided here ever since. Charles was offered a position with the Postal Training Center in Norman where he worked until his retirement. After living in Norman, Jan became a huge fan of OU football. She and Charles bought season tickets for a few years and enjoyed attending the games. In later years, Jan watched OU football religiously, never wavering in her support for the Sooners.
Janice suffered from anxiety/panic disorder and agorophobia in her 40's. As the fighter that she was, she sought help and joined a support group in Norman, OK. She eventually became the facilitator of this same support group and spent many hours of her time helping others with this disorder. She was given an Honorary Social Worker award from NAMI Oklahoma (National Alliance for Mental Illness). Janice was grateful for her recovery and the opportunities she had to help so many others with this debilitating illness.
In her later years, Janice and Charles spent time enjoying their lives together and with their three children, six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November of 2024.
Jan is survived by her husband, Charles; daughter, Janet Miller and husband Joe; son, James Burnett and Patti; son, Jerry Burnett and wife Teri; grandchildren, Lindsay Knapp, A.J. Miller, Sarah Fleming, McKenna Burnett, and Sami Burnett; great-grandchildren, Emma Nelson, Natalie Miller, Harper Miller, Ella Fleming, Annie Fleming, and Noah Fleming; and brother, Jim Brinkley and wife Hazel.